If you have the option take a CX bike and a mountain bike and decide on the day … this year it was rock hard and mountain bikes were killing it on the descents .. year before it was a mud fest and cx bikes were the best choice.

First timer here too. I plan on rigid 29er in 1×10 mode. Just got a set of on one newest carbon fork offering, shitt!ngly light! (Instead of the virtually not moving lumps of crap that are on the bike at the moment!).

Rode the old course on my x bike the other week and it was fine, back in feb it was a nightmare. Dave Haygarth rode half on his cross bike and half on his MTB and IIRC said there was next to nothing in it

If you are aiming to survive rather than win take whatever bike you feel most confident on, but not the road bike. The course is varied and the winner will be the best athlete, not the best bike.

In my case it would be my 5” travel full susser. I’m quicker on my CX but I’m not the most skilful rider on it and some bits of the course give me “the fear” and I’m not a big fan of some of the climbs on my SS.